I know that Julian, I was just making a point that if anything ever happens to me on the forums or the moderation becomes too rediculously tight, I will still be a customer simply because I like the products. I'm not going to stop buying things from them just because the moderation becomes crazy, the forums are just a extra benefit.I was making that point because some people in this thread have stopped buying things from them for that exact reason.

Edited February 4, 201214 yr by Misha Cajic

My long experience of hobbies and leisure pursuits in general is that a lot of folks do indeed like to have a two-way relationship with retailers/manufacturers/developers et al. In this age of social networking, successful companies are very likely to be those who best embrace that concept.A good company forum is a bit like a well run pub. The landlord shouldn't be bothered about what the punters are talking about, so long as they're buying lots of beer while doing so. Who cares if they're discussing the ales up the road being good as well, at the end of the day it's your pub they're still drinking in night after night, not the opposition's.I think where things have started to go wrong in this case is that there has been a clear desire to steer/curtail thoughts too much, with the hugely misjudged notion that such control will somehow have a positive, Svengali-like impact on purchasing habits. Now it has reached a ridiculous point where the mere upload of a screenshot is subject to a range of rules that arguably make Whitehall/Washington bureaucracy look like a chimp's tea party.The most astonishing aspect of the whole thing is that if you create a situation where your customers are uncomfortable with hanging out on your forum, all you do is deliver them into the hands of the competition. It's self defeating.I, too, observed that the dropping of the hardware forum was the genesis of the discontent that is so evident on these posts. It was an extremely vaild forum and, actually, one of the most interesting anywhere in flight simming. Everyone learned from everyone else's experiences in how to make this demanding software run better and wiser purchases were made. Then, inexplicably, it was pulled.My professional life has demonstrated several glaring examples where relatively early business success goes to the head of the executive(s) concerned, and arrogance rears its ugly persona, feeding the grotesquely inaccurate assertion that any product is bigger than the customers who are effectively financing its continued existence. The outcome is invariably a one-way street.The question is, I guess, have bridges already been irrevocably burned?Reading these posts, I think they may.Hope remains however. I sense that many on here want their messages to be read and very carefully considered by those at whom the constructive criticism is aimed. The fact that they are doing this on an independent forum speaks volumes for the disenfranchisement they feel.

Edited February 4, 201214 yr by Parping Couplet

I know that Julian, I was just making a point that if anything ever happens to me on the forums or the moderation becomes too rediculously tight, I will still be a customer simply because I like the products. I'm not going to stop buying things from them just because the moderation becomes crazy, the forums are just a extra benefit.I was making that point because some people in this thread have stopped buying things from them for that exact reason.

No worries Misha, sorry if i mis understoodCheers

It’s great to have another forum on Orbx and reading about some of the official forum antics has left a bad taste in my mouth – a little courtesy would have gone a long way. If I was banned for something trivial – I would be pretty ###### too. So I understand where some of the posts are coming from.But I think this place runs the risk of turning into a negative forum. It reminds me of all the recent negativity of the MS Flight forum with its talk of self proclaimed ‘hard core’ and ‘elite simmers’ who have been mistreated by MS – which is why I now completely avoid it. Let’s not make this another how wrongly we have been treated sub forum. I buy Orbx because I like their product – not because they have a forum. I would like other simmers to enjoy it too, listen to their experiences on avsim and talk to them about it. If this forum is about discouraging people from enjoying good quality scenery – it's off to a good start.If the objective is to have an alternate Pilot's Lounge without the heavy handed moderation – let’s work towards it.Cheers

Edited February 4, 201214 yr by Fox-Bat

These are early days for this group and I think it is quite natural for a certain amount of spleen venting to be evident.One of two outcomes are likely.Either Orbx will revise its forum policies and people will drift back, or the excellent community that was created in the original forum will reinvent itself in this guise.It really is up to Orbx how this plays out. Quick action is, however, advisable.

These are early days for this group and I think it is quite natural for a certain amount of spleen venting to be evident.One of two outcomes are likely.Either Orbx will revise its forum policies and people will drift back, or the excellent community that was created in the original forum will reinvent itself in this guise.It really is up to Orbx how this plays out. Quick action is, however, advisable.

+1I can here the nail hitting the head

I know that Julian, I was just making a point that if anything ever happens to me on the forums or the moderation becomes too rediculously tight, I will still be a customer simply because I like the products. I'm not going to stop buying things from them just because the moderation becomes crazy, the forums are just a extra benefit.I was making that point because some people in this thread have stopped buying things from them for that exact reason.

Yes, I'm one of them, not because I don't like their products (I have a lot of them) but because I care about the way I am treated as a customer, I do not have any problems what so ever with you or others buying Orbx products for what ever reason you may have as I am the first one to say that their products is good.If you do not care about not having access to their forum because you questioned them about why they are doing what they are doing...well... more power to you, and I will respect that, as a business owner myself I would like for all my customers to be like you, I would like to say or do to them what ever please me without any repercussion.....I can tell you right now that this is not the real world we live in business wise.I have customers i've never seen, calling me from all over the world to buy my products, if they call me to place their orders because they don't like to do that online, need my help with my products or to complain about something, I can assure you that when they hang up the phone with me they fell like they were my favorate of all my customers.I can see where you'r comming from (and other newbies who jus signed up to post here) as you don't want anything to happen to FTX, you like their products, and you want them to stay in business so you can keep buying their products, I'm with you on that, but IT'S NOT UP TO US TO KISS THEIR FEET.....they are the one who should kiss our feet, we are (was) the ones sending them money, as far as I know they did not pay me to use their products, I paid them.I hope Orbx stays in business get bigger and prosper so you can enjoy their products, I wish them the best, as of now if they get bigger it will not be with my money, the ball is in their camp.PS: I love your vid.

Edited February 4, 201214 yr by alainneedle1

The 'problem' is that it all started off very friendly. The guy(s) at Orbx simply was (were) one of us and their forum was a warm and welcome home. Imho most of the guys who create stuff for Orbx (Orbx is simply a distributor of addons other peole make imho) are still 'one of us' and very friendly. Really nice guys. But then the company got bigger and bigger and it got shareholders and, as usual with a lot of companies, dollarsigns got into the eyes of at least someone. They knew they were good, one of the best, and arrogance crept in.I think that most people who turned away from Orbx are those that have beem there for a few years already (?).About this forum becoming a negative place: I don't think so. Most people are positive about the Orbx products and it is because of THAT that this forum exists. The talk about the company and how they treat customers will fade away in the near future, I am sure, and this will become the new Orbx home a lot of people disre to have.

You know fellas, I agree with everything everyone here has said, there are some very interesting observations and articulate posts. I agree with fox bat regarding the negative connotations, but I do think, like has been said, that people with a common experience often want to share that experience with those in a kind of bar room scenario. I have always tried never being afraid of admitting I am wrong when proved so, or in fact apologising if appropriate. In doing so I sincerely believe that people have far more respect for you as a person. I think if the gentleman in question was to simply hold up his hands and say " hey, sorry guys, I got it wrong" then he would be seen in a far better light than staying silent, running the risk of the continual suggestion of arrogance.I still visit the Orbx forum, enjoy my time there and still support their products, but as has already been said, there is definitely a different feeling.

Edited February 4, 201214 yr by Rockliffe

I made a post on their forums about motor vehicle manufactures adopting software policies and not being able to drive your car outside the state you purchased it in without purchasing a multi-state licence pack and petrol compainies adopting mobile phone policies for fuel plans where you pay 15 bucks per litre if you exceed your monthly fuel plan quota.The post was deleted within minutes. It's their forum, so it's their right. Next time I went back a few days later, I got the "you are no longer welcome at this community" message.Looks like they or somebody tried sent me a PM, as I had a "1" on the little envelope at the top, but because I've been banned, I couldn't read it.In the end, I really don't care. They've made their bed with P3D, and I'm not interested in purchasing rental-ware .If Flight or X-Plane 10 or even both, turns out ok, lots of people will head in those directions and they may end up with a product going nowhere.

If Flight or X-Plane 10 or even both, turns out ok, lots of people will head in those directions and they may end up with a product going nowhere.

Yes... I expect MS Flight will be perfect for my kind of GA/VFR flying. Really look forward to it. I will use FSX for the 737NGX but I don't need FTX for that. I'm completely done with Orbx by now.

Yes... I expect MS Flight will be perfect for my kind of GA/VFR flying. Really look forward to it. I will use FSX for the 737NGX but I don't need FTX for that. I'm completely done with Orbx by now.

I will be looking forward to your findings Jeroen, once you have had a chance after release to take it through it's paces. I don't intend downloading in the immediate future, well until I do some house keeping on my HDD's, and make some room. (Got a bit carried away with the xmas sales)

Wow!I made my post before reading anthing other than what was on page 10. Then I went back and read all the posts in this thread.Well this may explain why some of the you-tube promotional videos on PCAviator and FSS have dissapeared with the owners closing their you-tube accounts.I didn't realise it was this bad. They really might just go down the toilet, if Flight or X-Plane succeeds.

Yes... I expect MS Flight will be perfect for my kind of GA/VFR flying. Really look forward to it. I will use FSX for the 737NGX but I don't need FTX for that. I'm completely done with Orbx by now.

Haven't you seen that MS FLIGHT will only include Hawaii and 2 planes? Kinda dissapointing tbh

Haven't you seen that MS FLIGHT will only include Hawaii and 2 planes? Kinda dissapointing tbh

More and more these days I just want to throw an aircraft around in the air for a while - makes no difference where I am really, as long as the clouds look good. I have less and less time in my real life for sitting down and flying from A to B on even a one hour flight. If they get it right then I think 'Flight' could be a good alternative for me, especially if it's small enough to be able to start up and get in the air within a minute.